The Miami Dolphins went into 2012 barren at wide receiver. Chad Johnson couldn’t even make it through training camp and Brian Hartline did an admirable job during the season, but it was obvious Miami needed to upgrade the position.

The Dolphins have already re-signed Hartline, they’re considered the front runners for Mike Wallace and now they’re interested inWes Welker, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Salguero said in his column “Maybe the fact the Dolphins are willing to do more than in the past [in free agency] is a reason one club source last week mentioned his affinity for signing Wes Welker in addition to Mike Wallace.”

The Dolphins traded Welker to the Patriots prior to the 2007 season. He spent two seasons with Miami.

Salguero’s source said Welker would “love nothing more than to stick it to the Patriots for not retaining him” if the two sides can’t reach a deal.